Page 60 - Middle Georgia State University - Knighted 2019
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been able to see the situation clearly, but the lies felt better to her, and so she was happy to
believe them.
It would be easy for Elizabeth to blame Mr. Wickham for her deception, or to be
irrationally angry at Mr. Darcy for revealing the lies, but Elizabeth only feels ashamed of herself.
“How despicably have I acted!…How humiliating is this discovery! —Yet, how just a
humiliation!…Till this moment, I never knew myself” (182). Elizabeth knows now that she is
not infallible. The way Elizabeth treats members of her own family, Mr. Wickham, and Mr.
Darcy next time she meets each shows the changes which have occurred inside of her. Humility,
caution, and consideration for others become a new part of Elizabeth’s character for the
remainder of Pride and Prejudice, and the change began when she read Mr. Darcy’s letter.
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